We have recently discovered that the jack bean lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) can bind methyl beta-septanosides. Methy beta-septanosides are representatives of a broad class of unnatural, expanded carbohydrates characterized by having seven (rather than five or six) atoms in their ring. The selectivity for beta-septanosides is in contrast to the natural ligands of ConA which are alpha-pyranosides. We are now working toward a fuller understanding of this protein-carbohydrate interaction through synthesis, conformational analysis, and protein binding studies. The results gathered from investigation of this model system will guide the design of septanosides with applications in medicinal chemistry and glycobiology.
Back to Organic Chemistry Session I
Back to The 33rd Northeast Regional Meeting (July 14-17, 2005)